STUNNED Michael Owen revealed he was "emotionally gone" after hearing reaction to his retirement this week.

The England legend, who scored 40 goals in 89 internationals, has enjoyed spells at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United but announced on Tuesday he will hang up his boots at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old striker moved to Stoke City at the start of the season but has made just one start for the Potters.

Owen said: "Having had plenty of time to get my head around my decision, I assumed that making the announcement public would be simple. What followed caught me totally by surprise.

"It started with a text from my sister. A text from my best mate was followed by one from my Dad. I had emotionally gone.

Michael Owen left Liverpool to join Real Madrid's Galacticos

I take pride in the fact that I have given people so much pleasure over the years.

Michael Owen

"For a couple of hours even the slightest thing would set me off. I headed off to see my parents and they were still in their bed clothes at 2.30pm glued to Sky Sports News.

"My mum's eyes were swollen from all the crying. What I thought would be a day of celebration was getting worse by the minute. The realisation had set in, after a lifetime of dedication and pleasure that football had afforded us, it was all about to end."

Owen said he felt "an immense amount of pride" when announcing his decision to retire. The FA has since opened talks about a possible ambassadorial role with England.

Owen added: "Looking back on my career, I suppose I have two overriding emotions.

Michael Owen was signed by Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

"The first is a sense of pride at not only what I achieved, but how I achieved it. Winning virtually every trophy at club level is the stuff of dreams and in amongst all that there were some incredible days.

"The second emotion that lives with me is a sense of 'what might have been' had injuries not robbed me of my most lethal weapon - speed.

"Many of my highlights were early on in my career and I can only wonder what more I would have achieved had my body been able to withstand the demands that I was making of it.

"I have no doubt that had I not suffered those 'pace depriving' injuries, I would be sat here now with a sack full of awards and a long list of records."

Owen also revealed he would be interested in working in the media or representing players in the future.

He added: "I take pride in the fact that I have given people so much pleasure over the years. I retire in the knowledge that everybody knows where they were when 'that goal' nestled into the top corner of the Argentinian’s net."